Event 2: Rita McBride's Particulates

This week, I had the opportunity to visit Rita McBride's exhibit "Particulates" located in the Bank Gallery of the Hammer Museum. I was particularly excited for this event since I love seeing the implementation of mathematics and technology in art and McBride's exhibit exemplified just that.

A picture of me in front of the Particulates exhibit (Source: Utkarsh Kumar)

Rita McBride's Particulates was described as a "rotated, hyperbolic parabola structure that is both optical and ephemeral" (Hammer Museum). As shown in the image below, the high-intensity laser beams combine with the water molecules from the vapor/mist source on the left to create this visually striking structure. The artwork is in some sense an optical illusion since it appears that the laser beams are curving but they are actually diagonally placed which gives the hyperbola effect.

Rita McBride's Particulates Exhibit (Source: Utkarsh Kumar)

As shown in the image above, the tinted windows are meant to represent the "corporate aesthetic of the office towers and condominium" and the black wall through which the laser beams shoot out references elements of the 1960s bank vault which the space formerly used to be (hence the Bank gallery). The image below shows the diagonal laser beams from behind the hole in the wall giving insight into how this mathematical structure is formed.

Diagonally traveling laser beams create a hyperbolic effect (Source: Utkarsh Kumar)

The visit to this exhibit prompted me to conduct further research on these forms of mathematical structures. The inventor of such hyperboloid architectural structures was a structural engineer from Russia named Vladimir Shukhov who created the structures "based on non-Euclidean hyperbolic geometry, known today as hyperboloids of revolution" (English). McBride's exhibit shows the intersection of science, technology, and mathematics as she utilizes 520nm continuous wave, high-intensity lasers alongside water vapor machines to create her geometric hyperboloid structure. McBride has included this in her previous works of art such as Mae West, Munich in 2011 (Poundstone). 

The hyperboloid structures offer mathematical insights into a new form of geometry and can be evaluated using parametric equations. These structures have been used in many architectural works across the world such as the Kobe Port Tower in Japan. Not only do hyperboloid structures have an aesthetic and appealing look, but they can also be built with straight steel elements to form "strong structures" and the design "guarantees lower cost than other technical solutions" (Koźniewski and Borowska). 

Kobe Port Tower in Japan (Source: MATCHA)

Through her work, McBride explores the principles of geometry, symmetry, and spatial relationships, creating sculptures that challenge our perception and engage the viewer's intellectual curiosity. Inspired by architectural and mathematical theories, her installations feature precise forms, intricate patterns, and carefully calculated dimensions. By fusing mathematics with art, McBride invites viewers to contemplate the harmony and order inherent in mathematical principles and their translation into tangible, three-dimensional objects. Her particulates exhibit serves as a testament to the potential for mathematics to inspire artistic expression, demonstrating the capacity of art to evoke emotional and intellectual responses while simultaneously exploring the underlying structures and patterns that govern our world.

References:

English, Elizabeth C. "Vladimir Shukhov and the invention of hyperboloid structures." Structures Congress 2005: Metropolis and Beyond. 2005.

Koźniewski, Edwin, and Anna Borowska. "Hyperboloid offset surface in the architecture and construction industry." Open Engineering 9.1 (2019): 404-413.

Kumi, Osawa. “Kobe Port Tower - a Red City Landmark Sparkling in the Sky: Matcha - Japan Travel Web Magazine.” MATCHA, 6 Mar. 2017, matcha-jp.com/en/4048.

Poundstone, William. “Rita McBride’s Curve of Beauty.” Rita McBride’s Curve of Beauty, 30 Dec. 2022, lacmaonfire.blogspot.com/2022/12/rita-mcbrides-curve-of-beauty.html?m=1.

“Rita McBride: Particulates.” Hammer Museum, hammer.ucla.edu/exhibitions/2023/rita-mcbride-particulates. Accessed 18 May 2023.

Image References:

Kumar, Utkarsh. A picture of me in front of the Particulates exhibit. 17 May. 2023.

Kumar, Utkarsh. Rita McBride's Particulates Exhibit. 17 May. 2023.

Kumar, Utkarsh. Diagonally traveling laser beams create a hyperbolic effect. 17 May. 2023.

Kumi, Osawa. “Kobe Port Tower - a Red City Landmark Sparkling in the Sky: Matcha - Japan Travel Web Magazine.” MATCHA, 6 Mar. 2017, matcha-jp.com/en/4048.